Winless Köln finding their feet

Köln won their first point of the season in Hannover on Matchday 6 | The Billy Goats have scored just once this season | They are playing in Europe for the first time since 1992 | Jonas Hector is one of their key long-term absentees

Straight after the Champions League, it's back to Bundesliga action. On Sunday (18:00 CEST), just a few days after their Champions League endeavours in Istanbul, Die Roten Bullen have a Bundesliga clash against 1. FC Köln.

Ahead of the match, we have compiled all the information you need to know about this weekend's opponents.

Köln on the up

There was a buzz around the cathedral city after last season. In 2017/18, the club would be playing in international competition for the first time in 25 years and they could build on last season's strong results in the league.

Peter Stöger's side have not, however, got off to the start that they would've hoped for. They had to wait until Matchday 6 to win their first point and in those six games, they have scored just one goal, through defender Frederik Sörensen. Despite this, Köln have improved in their recent games.

Köln's last three results in the Bundesliga:

Matchday 4: Borussia Dortmund - 1. FC Köln 5-0

Matchday 5: 1. FC Köln - Eintracht Frankfurt 0-1

Matchday 6: Hannover 96 - 1. FC Köln 0-0

Köln are picking up pace:

Last season's surprise package are slowly slipping into gear. After their star striker Anthony Modeste left the club for China, they brought in a replacement full of Bundesliga experience in Jhon Cordoba.

With the Colombian playing alongside Yuya Osako up front, the Rhineland side have been performing much better after their poor start. Despite working and running extremely hard, the Köln strikers have lacked the luck in front of goal - with defender Sörensen scoring their only goal.

So far there has been lots to be talked about for the Billy Goats

Head coach Peter Stöger points in the direction his side are aiming for - forwards

Head to head:

2016/17:

We were unbeaten against Köln last season. On Matchday 5, Die Roten Bullen drew 1-1 away. Oliver Burke put RB ahead early on before Osako equalised for Köln.

Meanwhile the two teams met in the Red Bull Arena on Matchday 22. The Leipzig goals came through Emil Forsberg, a Dominic Maroh own goal and Timo Werner. In the game that ended 3-1, Osako scored again against Leipzig for the away side.

Das 1:1-Remis im Hinspiel beim 1. FC Köln!

More info on 1. FC Köln:

Germany international Jonas Hector is a long-term absentee:

Köln will have to do without their German international and regular starter Jonas Hector for much of this season. The 27-year-old will be out at least until the end of 2017 having torn his ankle ligaments. Hector played the full 90 minutes in 33 out of 34 Bundesliga games last season.

Captain Matthias Lehmann pulls the strings in midfield:

The 34-year-old has played for Köln since 2012 and is one of the first names on Stöger's teamsheet. With 398 touches so far this season, he has been the driving force for the side and he is a focal point in their 3-1-4-2 system.

Loss in the Europa League opener:

The Rhineland side made their return to the European stage after 25 years. They lost their Europa League opener 3-1 against Arsenal. On Thursday, they welcome Red Star Belgrade to the RheinEnergieStadion for the second group game.

1. FC Köln

Sun

1st Oct

RB Leipzig

18:00 CEST
RheinEnergieStadion
, Köln

49968

The capacity of Köln's RheinEnergieStadion

504
games

How many games record holder Toni Schumacher played between 1972 and 1987